NFL Season To begin. Is this a 4th commandment issue?

[kceaster]

Kevin,
Here's a list:
Things not to do on Lord's days
Recreations.
Callings.

We have to understand the standards first as to the original intent which in this case is strict sabbatarianism and they proscribe all recreation as well as work. You said you had a problem wrt recreation. That requires an exception in my opinion. On LC 99, with the commands to duty, the contrary sins are included, where a sin prohibited, the positive duties are included.

No argument with LC 99. I completely agree.

I'll bow out of this discussion. Just trying to be helpful as I think you are, too. But it doesn't seem like we're getting anywhere. Thanks for your comments and may God help us all grow in these things to a better understanding always.

In Christ,

KC

 

[Scott1]

victorbravo
Moderator

BTW, I'm not a WCF guy, strictly speaking, but I think the drafters of the LBCF had the same point of view.

London Baptist Confession of Faith (1689)
Chapter 28

8._____ The sabbath is then kept holy unto the Lord, when men, after a due preparing of their hearts, and ordering their common affairs aforehand, do not only observe an holy rest all day, from their own works, words and thoughts, about their worldly employment and recreations, but are also taken up the whole time in the public and private exercises of his worship, and in the duties of necessity and mercy.
( Isaiah 58:13; Nehemiah 13:15-22; Matthew 12:1-13 )

Westminster Confession of Faith
Chapter XXI
VIII. This Sabbath is to be kept holy unto the Lord when men, after a due preparing of their hearts, and ordering of their common affairs beforehand, do not only observe an holy rest all the day from their own works, words, and thoughts about their wordly employments and recreations,[38] but also are taken up the whole time in the public and private exercises of His worship, and in the duties of necessity and mercy.[39]

The Westminster Confession of Faith and London Baptist Confession of Faith appear to be identical in how they summarize the doctrine contained in Scripture about the Fourth Commandment.

 

[FrielWatcher]

I voted yes.

With the first few pages, I thought midrash and adding to the Talmud was next. Then there was clarity stating that the motives of the heart will tell you if it is a violation of the 4th commandment. You know, the people on this board, know when something is in violation of the commands because your conscience bears witness to you - that you should have spent the day doing something else.

I voted yes because I find many other things rather to do rather than watch football. I don't think football is God honoring or exalting, especially in the mode that most people do it - sitting on the couch doing nothing. How precious is our time brothers and sisters? I'll tell you - very. How much studying do we desire to do, and to spend time with family, and this and that? TV robs me daily of precious time and I have to fight like all get-out to turn it off because it sucks me in!

Sunday it is, the day when the media and broadcasters want us sitting on our butts and watching them - hoping in the commercials, hoping for our team to win. OH, how much do we..want..our..team..TO WIN!! Our motives show our end hope and you know that God knows that too.

Sunday, they chose because the most people would watch. Thursday morning football? Hundreds of thousands go to work each Sunday to make a game happen, very early they go I might add. How much would we rejoice to see everyone of them saved and truly worshipping in the church? But they aren't because there is money to be made otherwise and people keep watching and coming back, going to the church of football.

 

[shackleton]

From the Larger Catechism on the 4th Commandment:

Q. 115. Which is the fourth commandment?

A. The fourth commandment is, Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work; but the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy man-servant, nor thy maid-servant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates. For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested in the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the sabbath-day and hallowed it.[621].

Q. 116. What is required in the fourth commandment?

A. The fourth commandment requireth of all men the sanctifying or keeping holy to God such set times as he hath appointed in his Word, expressly one whole day in seven; which was the seventh from the beginning of the world to the resurrection of Christ, and the first day of the week ever since, and so to continue to the end of the world; which is the Christian sabbath,[622] and in the New Testament called The Lord’s day.[623]

Q. 117. How is the sabbath or the Lord’s day to be sanctified?

A. The sabbath or Lord’s day is to be sanctified by an holy resting all the day,[624] not only from such works as are at all times sinful, but even from such worldly employments and recreations as are on other days lawful;[625] and making it our delight to spend the whole time (except so much of it as is to be taken up in works of necessity and mercy[626]) in the public and private exercises of God’s worship:[627] and, to that end, we are to prepare our hearts, and with such foresight, diligence, and moderation, to dispose and seasonably dispatch our worldly business, that we may be the more free and fit for the duties of that day.[628]

Q. 118. Why is the charge of keeping the sabbath more specially directed to governors of families, and other superiors?

A. The charge of keeping the sabbath is more specially directed to governors of families, and other superiors, because they are bound not only to keep it themselves, but to see that it be observed by all those that are under their charge; and because they are prone ofttimes to hinder them by employments of their own.[629]

Q. 119. What are the sins forbidden in the fourth commandment?

A. The sins forbidden in the fourth commandment are, all omissions of the duties required,[630] all careless, negligent, and unprofitable performing of them, and being weary of them;[631] all profaning the day by idleness, and doing that which is in itself sinful;[632] and by all needless works, words, and thoughts, about our worldly employments and recreations.[633]

Q. 120. What are the reasons annexed to the fourth commandment, the more to enforce it?

A. The reasons annexed to the fourth commandment, the more to enforce it, are taken from the equity of it, God allowing us six days of seven for our own affairs, and reserving but one for himself in these words, Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work:[634] from God’s challenging a special propriety in that day, The seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God:[635] from the example of God, who in six days made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: and from that blessing which God put upon that day, not only in sanctifying it to be a day for his service, but in ordaining it to be a means of blessing to us in our sanctifying it; Wherefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.[636]

Q. 121. Why is the word Remember set in the beginning of the fourth commandment?

A. The word Remember is set in the beginning of the fourth commandment,[637] partly, because of the great benefit of remembering it, we being thereby helped in our preparation to keep it,[638] and, in keeping it, better to keep all the rest of the commandments,[639] and to continue a thankful remembrance of the two great benefits of creation and redemption, which contain a short abridgment of religion;[640] and partly, because we are very ready to forget it,[641] for that there is less light of nature for it,[642] and yet it restraineth our natural liberty in things at other times lawful;[643] that it cometh but once in seven days, and many worldly businesses come between, and too often take off our minds from thinking of it, either to prepare for it, or to sanctify it;[644] and that Satan with his instruments labours much to blot out the glory, and even the memory of it, to bring in all irreligion and impiety.[645]

In order to obey, '(except so much of it as is to be taken up in works of necessity and mercy[626])' & 'but even from such worldly employments and recreations as are on other days lawful;[625]', we need to make a list of what things are 'works of necessity and mercy.' We would also need to make a list of 'worldly employments and recreations as are on other days lawful.' Without such lists we cannot determine whether or not we are being obedient to the commandment. Whether these lists are personal lists, or lists written by godly men, is immaterial. Lists are a necessity. My list breaks down into the twofold category outlined by the WLC.

Works of:

1. Necessity
   a. Starting my car to go to church
   b. Cooking breakfast or lunch
   c. If I break something, like a curly-q lightbulb which releases mercury vapor, I have it cleaned up
   d. If I hurt myself, I have it looked at
2. Mercy
   a. If I own animals I feed them
   b. Look in on the elderly lady upstairs and find out if she needs anything

Acts that are lawful on other days:

1. Employment
   a. I work at the Post Office, so no problem for my job
   b. Housework and yard work I do not, unless it falls under works of necessity; I'm not going to dig some fence post holes and put up a fence, when I could have done it on Saturday or could do it on Monday. But if my horses are going to go running about, because the fence is broken, then it is a work of necessity.
2. Recreation
   a. No video games
   b. No TV, which generally becomes idleness for me on regular days
   c. The internet is used for reading about or researching the things of God

Everything I do must be brought to these two categories and dealt with. If it cannot fit under the first category of 'necessity & mercy', then I don't do it. Worldly recreations don't fit under necessity and mercy. I see this as also falling under 2 Cor 10:4, 5 and showing my gratitude to God for His deliverance(HC Q/A 2).

Just my two cents: It almost seems like it can get to the point of obeying the law for the sake of it rather than because we are trying to have the mind of Christ. At what point does the observance of the law or the confession become an idol?

 

[JohnGill]

From the Larger Catechism on the 4th Commandment:...showing my gratitude to God for His deliverance(HC Q/A 2).

Just my two cents: It almost seems like it can get to the point of obeying the law for the sake of it rather than because we are trying to have the mind of Christ. At what point does the observance of the law or the confession become an idol?

At the point one obeys to look righteous in the eyes of others. At this point it is sin. Or if one thinks that in obeying it he merits favor with God. But the same could be said about any of the commandments. Always in front of the mind must be the thought, How can I express my gratitude to Christ on this Lord's Day? And when, as we all must due to our sin, start obeying out of anything other than gratitude to Christ, we must then repent of that sin. I like what Dr. Whitney said in his series on the Lord's Day. To paraphrase, When it comes to determining what you are going to do on Sunday remember this, It's the Lord's Day. What would be pleasing to my Lord? I think that focus will prevent obedience from becoming an idol.

 

[shackleton]

From the Larger Catechism on the 4th Commandment:...showing my gratitude to God for His deliverance(HC Q/A 2).

Just my two cents: It almost seems like it can get to the point of obeying the law for the sake of it rather than because we are trying to have the mind of Christ. At what point does the observance of the law or the confession become an idol?

At the point one obeys to look righteous in the eyes of others. At this point it is sin. Or if one thinks that in obeying it he merits favor with God. But the same could be said about any of the commandments. Always in front of the mind must be the thought, How can I express my gratitude to Christ on this Lord's Day? And when, as we all must due to our sin, start obeying out of anything other than gratitude to Christ, we must then repent of that sin. I like what Dr. Whitney said in his series on the Lord's Day. To paraphrase, When it comes to determining what you are going to do on Sunday remember this, It's the Lord's Day. What would be pleasing to my Lord? I think that focus will prevent obedience from becoming an idol.

This is what I keep thinking of, obedience to have the mind of Christ and be pleasing to God and not just abstain for its own sake. Also, what one person would not do on the Sabbath another might not have a problem with.

 

[shackleton]

John Gill,
After reading over you post a few times I have to say that is a good breakdown, I will have to think on this more.

I have a job that requires that I work every third Sunday, like it or not and there is not a thing I can do about it.

 

[Presbyterian Deacon]

Works of:

Necessity
a. Starting my car to go to church
b. Cooking breakfast or lunch
c. If I break something, like a curly-q lightbulb which releases mercury vapor, I have it cleaned up
d. If I hurt myself, I have it looked at
Mercy
a. If I own animals I feed them
b. Look in on the elderly lady upstairs and find out if she needs anything

Acts that are lawful on other days:

Employment
a. I work at the Post Office, so no problem for my job
b. Housework and yard work I do not, unless it falls under works of necessity; I'm not going to dig some fence post holes and put up a fence, when I could have done it on Saturday or could do it on Monday. But if my horses are going to go running about, because the fence is broken, then it is a work of necessity.
Recreation
a. No video games
b. No TV, which generally becomes idleness for me on regular days
c. The internet is used for reading about or researching the things of God

John Gill--

Thank you for these helpful distinctions. You have put the "sense" of the Westminster Divines' words in very practical and useful way.

 

[moral necessity]

in my opinion, the Sabbath was given to restrain man from working all 7 days of the week, more than it was to gnaw at his conscience over certain enjoyments that did not pertain to his trade of business. It was a gift from God that forced man to refrain from his labor so that he could have the time to enjoy God, as well as to enjoy the pleasures that he graces us with! And, it refocused his mind and attention on the one who provided him with strength for his labor, as well as who provided him with the enjoyments that he partook of. "The sabbath was made for man, not man for the sabbath." And, when one focuses on the strictness of tithing our mint and herb, they often miss the point of the command altogether. God is the giver of all good things, and he is the giver of rest and enjoyment as well. And, why would one refuse the sunbeams of his enjoyment for the sake of enjoying the sun? They are one and the same, and the one ought to point us back to the other. The enjoyment of the radiance of the sun ought to drive us to its source. So, I don't refuse a good steak or a pleasureable nap on Sunday b/c it might be for my own pleasure over his, for I know he gave the steak, as well as the rest from my labors, for me to enjoy. And, I don't eat spinach instead, for the sake of knowing that I did not do something for my own pleasure. And, I don't force myself to stay awake on a Sunday afternoon for the sake of speaking to God or for reading his word, just so I feel that I love him above the things that he provides and gives to me, for I try to see through these good things to the giver of such things. So, I think that, if we look at things that please us (that are not sinful) as coming from God, then this is not much different from enjoying God himself at all. Can we not look through the enjoyments to the one who gave it? And so, can we not therefore be enjoying God and worshipping God through the pleasure that we experience. Should we refuse to have relations with our wife on the sabbath? And so, should we refuse other temporal, earthly enjoyments for the same cause? God himself gives us earthly pleasures to enjoy, and so wouldn't it show honor and worship of him to partake of such unsinful pleasures that he offers, with a clear conscience, provided we look through the pleasures to the giver of all good things? And, I'm sure all of us agree that what he offers to us through our wives blows his more minor gifts of pleasure to us out of the water!

Blessings and fellowship!

 

[shackleton]

in my opinion, the Sabbath was given to restrain man from working all 7 days of the week, more than it was to gnaw at his conscience over certain enjoyments that did not pertain to his trade of business. It was a gift from God that forced man to refrain from his labor so that he could have the time to enjoy God, as well as to enjoy the pleasures that he graces us with! And, it refocused his mind and attention on the one who provided him with strength for his labor, as well as who provided him with the enjoyments that he partook of. "The sabbath was made for man, not man for the sabbath." And, when one focuses on the strictness of tithing our mint and herb, they often miss the point of the command altogether. God is the giver of all good things, and he is the giver of rest and enjoyment as well. And, why would one refuse the sunbeams of his enjoyment for the sake of enjoying the sun? They are one and the same, and the one ought to point us back to the other. The enjoyment of the radiance of the sun ought to drive us to its source. So, I don't refuse a good steak or a pleasureable nap on Sunday b/c it might be for my own pleasure over his, for I know he gave the steak, as well as the rest from my labors, for me to enjoy. And, I don't eat spinach instead, for the sake of knowing that I did not do something for my own pleasure. And, I don't force myself to stay awake on a Sunday afternoon for the sake of speaking to God or for reading his word, just so I feel that I love him above the things that he provides and gives to me, for I try to see through these good things to the giver of such things. So, I think that, if we look at things that please us (that are not sinful) as coming from God, then this is not much different from enjoying God himself at all. Can we not look through the enjoyments to the one who gave it? And so, can we not therefore be enjoying God and worshipping God through the pleasure that we experience. Should we refuse to have relations with our wife on the sabbath? And so, should we refuse other temporal, earthly enjoyments for the same cause? God himself gives us earthly pleasures to enjoy, and so wouldn't it show honor and worship of him to partake of such unsinful pleasures that he offers, with a clear conscience, provided we look through the pleasures to the giver of all good things? And, I'm sure all of us agree that what he offers to us through our wives blows his more minor gifts of pleasure to us out of the water!

Blessings and fellowship!

Brilliant! Other people put things so much better than I do.